Parenting is a job that takes up a significant amount of time. However, in order to take care of your family in the best way that you can, it’s likely that work will also take up a large amount of time. In order to reconcile this, some parents have resolved to turn to the online world to build a career. In many ways, this has proven to be beneficial, as you can spend more time at home and don’t have the stress of commuting back and forth from work. Running a business online can also prove to be challenging because you’re likely to have many more distractions at home, where separating work and family time may be tough. If this sounds like the story of your life, you’re going to find a few work-life balance tips you may find useful below.
Work with a Schedule
When you run a business online, it’s imperative that you work with a schedule if you want to achieve work-life balance. This is because it’s so easy for the lines between work and home to become blurred. When you work in a business in which most of the work can only be done on site, it’s easier to leave work at the office and focus on family at home. On that note, ensure you schedule in time for things aside from work, whether it’s TLC or spending time with your loved ones. Also, be strict with yourself and try not to put this leisure time at the bottom of the list.
Choose a Reliable Platform
If you have a business that focuses on selling products online, having a reliable platform is critical. You’d be surprised at how much time you could save as a result of less downtime, fewer tech challenges, and better management. You should, therefore, make sure that you’re getting the most out of your platform provider or consider migrating to another platform altogether. If you’re currently facing the Big Commerce vs Shopify Plus debate, remember that the latter has a quicker response time as well as a higher growth rate for merchants. This suggests you should get a better user experience for your customers and there’s a higher probability of making more money as well.
Try Working Away from Home
Sometimes, if you want to improve efficiency and get better at balancing work and life, creating a workstation away from home is ideal. This could mean renting an office space a few days a week and committing to only working within those hours you set for yourself. In doing this, you’re likely to have fewer distractions, and you may find that having a time constraint makes you more productive.
Find Uncommon Family Time Ideas
The reality is, some days work will take up more time than you’d like, but if you look for unconventional ways to spend time with family, it could compensate. This could mean taking time out to cook dinner with them or waking up early to get morning exercise in. There are no rules on how quality time should be spent, so be creative and make the most of the time that you have. Also, don’t forget to have at least one family holiday a year and do something fun like going on a Royal Caribbean Ship or to Disney World.
Trying to strike a balance between family, personal time, and running a successful online business likely won’t be easy. However, if you’re ready to work with a schedule and prioritize, it’s definitely achievable. On days where you aren’t able to find a balance, remember to be easy on yourself, as there’s always tomorrow.